AFSC looking to celebrate and honour women with awards

AFSC, in partnership with 840 CFCW, wants to recognize and celebrate the amazing women working in agriculture and agribusiness across this province through the AFSC Women in Ag Award. This annual award is an opportunity to celebrate and share the fantastic contributions that women are making to improve this industry. This year, we’re honouring seven passionate and innovative women. Each recipient will receive an award and a trip to the Advancing Women in Agriculture West Conference.

Women have always been a crucial part of the agriculture industry around the world, but their contributions often go unrecognized.

Recent statistics from Statistics Canada confirms what many people in the industry are already aware of: women’s presence in agriculture, whether as producers or in agribusiness, is going up. While the overall number of farm operators in Canada is going down, the percentage of operators who are women is steadily rising.

The agriculture industry faces many challenges, but is a crucial economic driver in Canada, and having more women in the industry will only be a positive thing for our country. Women continually bring unique ideas and perspectives to the table, pushing our industry forward.

Alberta is home to many amazing farming women, and we want to celebrate the energy and innovation those women bring to the table. AFSC’s Women in Ag Award recognizes the passion, dedication, and commitment of Alberta women within agriculture and agribusiness in Alberta.

Each year the award recognizes seven phenomenal individuals – four from anywhere in the province and three from within AFSC – who are improving this industry.

These individuals, who are creating positive changes in the industry, demonstrate:

- Leadership or mentorship within the agriculture or agri-food industry

- Passion for the agriculture industry

- Support for the next generation of agriculture AFSC will recognize four (4) individuals and three (3) AFSC employees for their outstanding contributions and participation in the advancement of women in Alberta’s agriculture and food sector.

Recipients must have made noteworthy contributions to the development and advancement of women in agriculture and agribusiness.

Recipients must:

- Reside in Alberta;

- Have enriched our agriculture and agriculture

communities;

- Inspired others;

- Used their skills and leadership to make the

Alberta ag industry better.

Award Categories

The following recognition awards (seven) will be chosen: North Winner – 1; AFSC North Winner – 1; Central Winner – 1; AFSC Central Winner – 1; South Winner – 1; AFSC South Winner – 1; Provincial under 40 Winner – 1.

CFCW is the official media partner for the AFSC Women in Ag Award.

Recognition & Award

The recipient of the Women in Ag Award will be presented with the following items in recognitions of their contributions:

- Unique AFSC branded award

- Full Advancing Women in Agriculture West (AWC West) conference

registration

- Hotel accommodations at the Hyatt, Calgary, Alberta.

- Private breakfast reception/pull up a chair session with keynote

speaker

- Featured and showcased throughout AFSC communication channels leading up to the conference

Award Nomination Process

The application will be via online submissions only at afsc.ca for both internal and external categories. The application uses a question and answer format.

All applications must be received by midnight February 22, 2022. Selection Process Applications will be evaluated and recipients will be chosen by a selection committee made up of two AFSC representatives/employees and three representatives from AFSC’s strategic corporate partners.

Recipient Notification

All recipients will be announced on International Women’s Day, March 8, through the AFSC website and social media channels. Recipients will be recognized at the AWC West 2022 Conference June 21 and 22 in Calgary. Learn more about the AWC West conference, please see the Advancing Women in Agriculture conference website.

Women in Ag Award

Alberta is home to many of these amazing farming women, and we want to celebrate the energy and innovation those women have brought to the table. AFSC’s Women in Ag Award recognizes the passion, dedication, and commitment of Alberta women within agriculture and agribusiness in Alberta.